“If you do this, you’re just as bad as you think I am.”

“I’m worse.”

“Do No Harm,” directed by Aiden Keltner and starring creator, writer, and producer Fay Kanesvsky as Heather, highlights the damage caused by medical sexism, neglect, and ableism in just five minutes. Disability Belongs™ Entertainment Lab Alumna Liz Galalis was one of three writers who worked on the project. [continue reading…]

Microaggressions are unfortunately something many people are familiar with, the disability community included. Constantly navigating uncomfortable conversations with strangers, and sometimes even people close to us. But what happens when constant verbal combat becomes too much? “Don’t Take This the Wrong Way” explores this question, telling the story of how this emotional toll leads to unraveling for the main character, Darcy. [continue reading…]

Have you ever had one of those moments where you are not sure if you are dreaming, or worse – having a nightmare? That queasy uncertainty pervades within the short film, “Nightmare,” directed by Zach Damon. In five suspenseful minutes, Damon pulls viewers into a creepy realm where folklore, fear, and reality are mixed. [continue reading…]

At Disability Belongs™, we fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community life, including the workforce. Yet, disabled people still face significant barriers in finding and retaining meaningful employment. In 2024, 37% of working-age disabled people were employed, compared to 75% of working-age people without disabilities. This disparity is largely due to accessibility challenges, harmful misconceptions, and the pervasive stigma surrounding disability.

The challenge for people with disabilities isn’t their ability to succeed in a career, as they are just as capable as their nondisabled peers. The issue is that disabled individuals encounter more obstacles to employment. [continue reading…]

Executive Summary

The U.S. Department of Education plays a critical role in ensuring that students with disabilities receive access to inclusive education, services, and legal protections under federal law. Recent proposals to dismantle, restructure, and defund the Department threaten to undermine decades of progress in disability rights and educational equity. This policy brief outlines the essential role of the Department of Education, the risks posed by dismantling it, and a call to action to safeguard the rights and opportunities of students with disabilities. [continue reading…]

Watching “Forward Thinking” feels like peering into an off-kilter, adjacent reality.

The film opens on a crowded bulletin board, with a tan-colored flyer sitting front and center of the frame. The flyer, written using friendly Comic Sans, is titled “Coffee with Cops,” and offers the chance to meet with officers at a local park “at 2 p.m. this Friday.” It features photos of two smiling white cops – one woman, one man – with speech bubbles hanging over each of their heads. The former’s reads: “We don’t all have domestic assault allegations;” the latter’s “Grab a cup o’ joe with the guy that put away your favorite schmo!”

Cut to James, a black man, looking at the flyer with an expression that shifts between surprised and perplexed. [continue reading…]

In the short film “At See,” Director Serena Dykman offers a glimpse into inclusion by taking viewers aboard an All Paws on Deck cruise to the Dominican Republic with more than 50 guide dogs and their partners. This opportunity was organized by the non-profit organization, All Paws On Deck, to provide an independent cruise experience for blind and partially sighted people with their guide dogs to enjoy.

As the first documentary to feature Open Audio Description as part of its storytelling, “At See” opens by introducing viewers to an audio description narrator, Nefertiti Matos Olivares, a blind Latina woman. Upbeat Latin dance music sets the scene as the short transitions from meeting Olivares to a cruise ship sailing the ocean before transitioning to focusing on the dogs. [continue reading…]

In the new short film “BABKA,” Director Serena Dykman presents a narrative that weaves together themes of identity, culture, and passion. The film centers on Moishe, a blind Orthodox Jewish baker who lives in the heart of Hasidic Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After recently losing his sight, Moishe is learning to navigate a new way of life as he re-opens his community’s beloved bakery. With the help of Jesus, a service dog trainer, Moishe adjusts to using his new guide dog, Bear.

The film explores the complexities that Moishe faces with his new disability in the tension between his personal needs and the religious culture of his tight-knit Orthodox community. Since the customs of Moishe’s community do not permit owning a dog, it creates conflict as he strives to return to his love of baking for his community while balancing the cultural and religious pressures around him. [continue reading…]

Washington, D.C., March 18 – This past week, reports confirmed that the Department of Education has implemented massive layoffs, cutting nearly 50% of its workforce. These cuts directly impact the Office for Civil Rights, along with the Office of Special Education. Disability Belongs™ expresses deep concern over this unprecedented move, fearing that it signals a disturbing trend aimed at dismantling an essential institution that supports American families and students, especially those with disabilities.

Disability Belongs™ recognizes these layoffs as part of a larger strategy that threatens the educational landscape for countless students. The ramifications of such drastic workforce reductions are far-reaching, directly impacting the protections afforded to public school students, particularly those facing discrimination and inequitable educational experiences. The current environment raises serious concerns about the ability of students to raise complaints and receive the necessary support to ensure their rights are upheld.  [continue reading…]